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    Jamshed Memorial Hall (Karachi Theosophical Society Hall)

    Written by: Musfirah Taqdees
    Posted on: December 14, 2017 | | 中文

    Jamshed Memorial Hall, Karachi

    Karachi is a diverse mix of cultures and religions, its history eternally and inextricably woven together with pluralism and interfaith harmony, of which one proof is the praise worthy and resilient existence of the Theosophical Society. Inspired by Dr. Annie Besant, who was the president of the International Theosophical Society, Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta founded the Theosophical Society of Karachi in 1896.

    Jamshed Nusserwanji with Rabindarnath Tagore

    Jamshed Nusserwanji with Rabindarnath Tagore (Source: Karachi Walla)

    The Theosophical Society Poster

    The Theosophical Society Poster

    A theosophical society is one where the members discuss philosophy and religion to seek answers to fundamental questions of our existence by cultivating spiritual knowledge. Their motto is: ‘There is no religion higher than truth.’

    Jamshed Nusserwanjee was Karachi’s first elected mayor, theosophist, philanthropist and architect whose developmental contributions earned him the title of ‘Builder of Modern Karachi’. He ordered the construction of Jamshed Memorial Hall in 1910, which is where the society used to meet. In 1956, the wood and stone building was demolished and reconstructed. Parsis, Hindus, Christians, Muslims and more gathered here, leaving their race, creed, sex, caste and color behind, to study comparative religion, philosophy, and science.

    Today, Jamshed Memorial Hall stands in Old Karachi, a visual reminder of peaceful and tolerant times in the hustle and bustle of Saddar. Inside the Hall, there is an auditorium, two libraries and a lecture room. The auditorium can accommodate up to 400 people, but has remained mostly inactive over the years. The last activity that took place here, was a theatre performance in December 2016. The library has some 10,000 titles stocked on philosophy, mysticism, theosophy, comparative religion etc. The second floor library contains many antiques and the bust of Dr. Annie Besant. The lecture room is where classes on metaphysical and philosophical subjects were held.

    One of the auditoriums

    One of the auditoriums (Source: Karachi Walla)

    On the third floor is the Jamshed Memorial Montessori School, the first Montessori school established in Karachi by Goon Minwalla. She also established the Theosophical Order of Service, which is the welfare arm of the Theosophical Society, in mid 1960s. It is still operational and heads different educational programs, relief and rehabilitation projects and animal welfare projects.

    From the exterior, Jamshed Memorial Hall doesn’t look very grand, but it’s quite spacious inside, especially the auditorium with its high ceilings and a wide overhead balcony. The ground floor library has been turned into an office, however the books still remain. Upon inquiring about any future events for the auditorium, I’m told that there are none planned, even though it was revived around a year back to cater for the needs of the local people, and bring back affordable theatre.

    Muhammad Ali's Performance Art 'Elephant in the room'

    Muhammad Ali's Performance Art 'Elephant in the room'

    Munawwar Ali Syed's 'Where Lies my Soul'

    Munawwar Ali Syed's 'Where Lies my Soul'

    The Hall is usually closed to the public now for security reasons, but just until recently the doors were opened when it was selected as one of the heritage sites to exhibit art for the Karachi Biennale. For this event the outward appearance of the façade was changed as a pattern of red insects was painted on it by Tazeen Qayyum. In her work, Façade, she explored the ideology of a society based on universal brotherhood, thus taking benefit from the history of the building. Another conspicuous installation was Where Lies My Soul by Munawaar Ali Syed, placed in the middle of the auditorium. A huge tree-like structure was made out of books, easels, drawings and carvings wrapped in black plastic sheets, forcing the viewers to imagine what’s inside. A total of 10 artists displayed their creations at the hall.

    Sanki King's 'Mind Palace' paintings on the rooftop

    Sanki King's 'Mind Palace' paintings on the rooftop

    Jamshed Memorial Hall evokes the spirit of old Karachi, a reminder of the loss of the pioneering individuals who transformed this city into a metropolis, and of the minority communities who have been pushed to the borders of the city. It takes you back in time, a poignant reminder of a city that was known for its inclusive and diverse communities that lived in harmony, enriching its cultural life.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021